I agree with the roles as defined by Leif on this one i.e.
1. <hgroup> is a simple mechanism that allows sub-headings <sh> to be associated with any level heading (h1-h6) by containment.
2. There can be more than 1 <sh> (if so named) in an <hgroup>
3. But <sh> (like <li> to <ul>) can only be used within <hgroup>
Therefore:
<hgroup>
<h1>Main</sh>
<sh>Sub</sh>
</hgroup>
Seems to address usability, accessibly and implementation.
I assume the next questions will be should we allow more than 1 <hx> within an <hgroup>?
The current example from http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec-author-view/sections.html#the-header-element is:
<header>
<hgroup>
<h1>Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.2</h1>
<h2>W3C Working Draft 27 October 2004</h2>
</hgroup>
<dl>
<dt>This version:</dt>
<dd><a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/WD-SVG12-20041027/">http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/WD-SVG12-20041027/</a></dd>
If <header> restarts the level/numbering of the <hx> anyway then does this example really need <hgroup>?
Regards,
Dean Leigh
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: public-html-request@w3.org [mailto:public-html-request@w3.org] On
>>Behalf Of Leif Halvard Silli
>>Sent: 12 January 2011 00:30
>>To: Philip Jägenstedt; HTML WG LIST
>>Subject: Re: hgroup: a possible alternative
>>
>>Leif Halvard Silli, Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:14:51 +0100:
>>
>>>> Philip Jägenstedt, Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:35:53 +0100:
>>
>>>>>> Why not simply say that <hgroup> may contain a single heading
>>>>>> element pluz zero or more <sh> elements?
>>>>>
>>>>> How would that be better than the <hgroup> solution we already have?
>>>>> Sounds like it's just renaming a <hx> element to <sh>...
>>>
>>>> 1) it solves what Steve's main problem with the current model:
>>> [ snipping the 5 points ]
>>>
>>> 6) Forgot to mention CSS: this content model makes hgroup easier to
>>> style.
>>
>>Regarding ARIA:
>> - The <sh> would have a similar role as the <caption> and
>><figcaption> element - that is, currently, no role (speaking in ARIA terms).
>> - <sh> would caption the content of the <hgroup>.
>> - The content of <hgroup> would be the <hx> element.
>> - The <hgroup> element would thus have a role similar to the
>><figure> element - that is, currently, no role (speaking in ARIA terms).
>>
>>Thus, in contrast to the current content model, no elements would need to
>>change their ARIA roles when they occur inside the <hgroup> element.
>>--
>>leif halvard silli